Things you can do to take care of yourself and stay connected
Posted: April 2, 2020
I know that there is concern in our community about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and all of us find ourselves dealing with changes to our normal routines. Many of us find ourselves working from home while trying to “homeschool” our children. Finding a balance between work and home is difficult in the best of circumstances and the current situation is making it even more difficult.
The quarantine has also led many in our community to feeling isolated-which can increase feelings of depression and anxiety. How do we find balance to keep ourselves physically well while still addressing our needs for connection and social support?
There are a number of things you can do to take care of yourself and stay connected right now.
• Follow CDC recommendations for your specific situation. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html
• Missouri residents can find help for daily life-food, utilities, child care, etc. on the Prepare KC Metro website http://www.preparemetrokc.org/covid19/resources.htm
• The Belton School District has a list of resources for parents, including information about meal distribution for students enrolled in the district on their website. https://www.beltonschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1974
• Limit news about the situation-it is OK to take a break when it feels overwhelming. For those who like Covid-19 updates in small doses, check out NPR’s Coronavirus Daily Podcast-each episode is less than 15 minutes! https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510355/coronavirusdaily
• Take advantage of online resources for social connections-Facetime, Facebook live, Zoom, and Google Hangouts are just a few options.
• Stay physically active by going outside, take walks, sit on your porch, or check out online fitness classes. A local resource in the Belton/Raymore area is Gather Wellness. They offer a variety of classes including yoga and belly dance-and everything is online during quarantine. https://www.gatherwellnesskc.com/
• Practice mindfulness. Everyone can use a bit of peace and self-compassion during these trying times. You can get your mindfulness fix and stay connected with others at the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness (MAM). They currently have a variety of FREE mindfulness offerings online. https://mindfulness-alliance.org/offerings/community-events/ When not dealing with quarantine, MAM offers a variety of in-person classes and events for individuals in the KC metro. They are also committed to teaching and cultivating the practice of mindfulness to businesses and organizations through their Speaker’s Bureau https://mindfulness-alliance.org/offerings/speakers-bureau/